Spotlight

New Delhi, 3 August, 2017

Missing the Gold…

YET THEY WON INDIA’S HEART

By Proloy Bagchi

It was just phenomenal. The Indian women’s cricket team would be playing the World Cup 2017finals. That too before a sell-out crowd at UK’s famed Lords’. Though cruising well on their way to victory, the young team seemed to have had a sudden attack of nerves, only to collapse within sniffing distance of a well-deserved victory. Importantly, this match was not about winning or losing. It was enough for us Indians to savour and celebrate their debut into the finals after some very good cricket that they played.

There were sterling performances by at least three of cricketers:  Poonum Raut and Harmanpreet Kaur with the bat and old campaigner Jhoolan Goswami in the bowling department who accounted for three of the English ladies. Indian skipper, Mithali Raj, a consistent scorer, was unfortunately run out at 17, as she was held back by her spikes that dug into the ground while running a single. Either which way, despite a seeming collapse, contest-wise it was a close and thrilling finish.

Call it a queer quirk of fate that the team lost to England in the finals, a team which it had defeated in an earlier face-off. Likewise, India rode into the finals after a convincing win over Australia against which it had lost in the preliminary round! Obviously the team progressively raised the level of its performance during the tournament that took it to the finals for the second time in history, but after a hiatus of more than a decade.

Notably, a number of centuries were scored at this World Cup including an undefeated swashbuckling 171 (not out) off only 115 deliveries by Harmanpreet Singh in the semi-final. This received wide appreciation world over resulting in this gifted cricketer being included in the International Cricket Council team.

Captain and consummate batswoman Mithali Raj led by example whereby the Indian team which was not expected to do well in the tournament  did so. Mithali herself scored 408 runs, only one run short of the highest scorer from the English side.

However, she went on to top the scoring charts by crossing the 6000 mark in Women’s Cricket, the highest ever by a woman. This was not the only individual accomplishment. Her tall team mate bowler Jhoolan Goswami stood out by netting a total of 36 wickets and bagged the third position among bowlers. Her three wickets in the finals for 23 runs had almost snatched the match away from England

Asserted Goswami after the final match, “ none of us had ever thought that the team would reach the finals.” Specially against the backdrop that they knew the team was underprepared and were playing against seasoned campaigners whereby they were up against difficult and frustrating contests.

But as the tournament progressed things started looking up. Smriti Mandhana who missed a century and scored 90 runs in the first match helped win the match against England. She showed great poise against a tougher team consistently lofting the ball to fly over close-in power-play fielders. That she did not do as well in subsequent matches was a surprise.

Additionally, Poonum Raut was in sublime form scoring a century. As expected Mithali Raj too chipped in with healthy scores including a hundred. It was the scintillating innings of Harmanpreet Singh against the Australians in the semi finals that excited supporters back home. The media literally went wild giving extensive coverage with photographs in print media.

Harmanpreet’s innings was being likened to those of Sehwag in his hey days. Her 171 not out with 20 fours and seven sixes had cricketers and fans rooting for her. Incidentally, one never imagined that women cricketers could hit sixes! Harmanpreet had hit one at Sydney while playing in a professional league match which bowled over the Australians

Despite the fact that the Indian women cricketers lost the World Cup, the team’s performance at the run up to the finals made them celebrities. Never before had women’s cricket been followed the way it was this time. And never before had women cricketers became the objects of such adoration.

Receptions and celebrations followed on their return and the team members were lionized and feted all the way.  What was more remarkable was Mithali being named the skipper of the International Cricket Council team because of her cricketing qualities. Two more girls, Harmanpreet Singh and Deepti Sharma, were also included in the team. 

Perhaps, this is for the first time that the women’s cricket team has won laurels at an international competition and earned so much of respect, love and affection. Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India was gracious in holding a reception for the team and gave a purse of Rs 50 lakhs to each member of the team.

Underscored  Captain Mithali. “this is a “revolution” that is taking place and only better efforts will justify the great love and affection showered on us by people.”

Pertinently, the Indian women’s hockey team has had relatively more successes and won gold medals at several international tournaments because of whichit has come to be known as the “Golden Girls of Hockey”. Famed Bolltwood actor Sharukh Khan had also produced and acted in ‘Chak De India’ a story about an all girls Indian hockey team.

Obversely, the Indian women’s football team is in total disarray. It has somehow lost its way after a bright opening. But one presumes, it is politics that has done it in. However, with the recent stand out performance of the women’s cricket team and adulation showered on it, things are likely to change. Efforts seem to be already afoot to improve matters in other games including football and hockey.

For those of us, who have seen the whole concept of women out on the playing fields slowly evolve, one  cannot help but marvel at the change. When we were in school and college 50-60 years ago girls playing field games was unheard of. A stray athletic event would have a few girls competing, but field games were, apparently, a strict no-no. At the most, they would play less strenuous kho kho or badminton, else they would confine themselves to indoor games like carrom and occasionally table tennis.

Undeniably, slowly but surely things seem to have picked up with the middle classes expanding and conservatism regarding women “indulging” in manly sports being shaken off. Clearly, the socio-cultural change which commenced three to four decades ago has brought in a fresh approach. Even the thinking in the Central and State Governments has changed with greater opportunities and sporting facilities progressively being made available for girls.

All in all, while in other Asian countries like Korea, China and Japan women’s sports has had runaway success, India is taking time over matching their feats. Currently, we have distinguished female players in tennis and badminton and even  boxing who now are among the best in the world.

God and Governments willing soon we are likely to have world beaters in other sporting events too. Let’s give it our best and keep aloft the women sport flag flying! ----- INFA 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)